UPDATED 6.20pm
CONOR MORTIMER IS one of three players to be replaced in the Mayo starting fifteen for next Sunday’s Connacht SFC semi-final against Leitrim from the side that lost out in the Division 1 league decider against Cork in Croke Park in April.
Manager James Horan has also named three championship debutants in his starting fifteen for the McHale Park clash. Westport duo Kevin Keane and Lee Keegan are newcomers on the right flank of defence although Keegan did gain championship experience when being sprung from the bench during the All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork and the All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry last summer. Danny Geraghty is another newcomer at midfield where he will partner Barry Moran.
Geraghty is drafted in for Jason Gibbons in a personnel change from the league final loss while corner-forwards Conor Mortimer and Michael Conroy also lose out. Alan Freeman and Jason Doherty are the pair handed starting berths in the inside forward line while there is a positional change with Cillian O’Connor named at centre-forward and Andy Moran moving in to the edge of the square.
Opponents Leitrim have made three changes from the side that overturned London at the quarter-final stage. Daniel Beck comes in for James Glancy at corner-back, Enda Williams takes the centre-back position with Fabian McMorrow moving to full-back in place of Ciaran Egan. Shane Moran lines out at midfield instead of Daniel Lowe.
MAYO SF: D Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); K Keane (Westport), G Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), K Higgins (Ballyhaunis); L Keegan (Westport), D Vaughan (Ballinrobe), C Boyle (Davitts); B Moran (Castlebar Mitchels), D Geraghty (Ballintubber); K McLoughlin (Knockmore), C O’Connor (Ballintubber), A Dillon (Ballintubber); A Freeman (Aghamore), A Moran (Ballaghadereen), J Doherty (Burrishoole).
LEITRIM SF: C McCrann (Gortletteragh); D Beck, (Mohill), F McMorrow (Melvin Gaels), P Maguire (Glencar Manorhamilton); C Clarke (Drumkeerin), E Williams (Clonguish), W McKeon, (Ballinamore Seán O’Heslin’s); D Sweeney (Glencar Manorhamilton), S Moran (Ballinamore Sean O’ Heslin’s); P Brennan, (Melvins Gaels), E Mulligan (Melvin Gaels), P McGowan (St. Patrick’s Dromahair); R Cox (Annaduff), J Glancy (Glencar Manorhamilton), A Croal (Glencar Manorhamilton).
